Hebrew music pulsated in the air and IDF soldiers joyfully waved Israeli flags on Monday, December 22nd at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport as 226 new olim (immigrants) from Ukraine alighted from the plane. The festive atmosphere upon their arrival marked the beginning of a new campaign to rescue Jews from the anarchy that marks the war torn country.
Working feverishly behind the scenes to get this project off the ground is Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). “This will be the first flight of many flights from Ukraine; bringing our brothers and sisters back to Israel,” said Rabbi Eckstein with great resolve. With the help of those on the ground in Ukraine such as the American Joint Distribution Committee and the Chabad Lubavitch movement, the IFCJ has begun the imperative work of “ensuring that any Je who is in danger or who faces hardship from the violence and unrest in Ukraine will receive shelter and a home in Israel,” said Rabbi Eckstein.